Pope Francis made the unusual decision during his lifetime to specify where he would like to be buried: in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome — a place of deep personal significance to him. He often visited the basilica before key moments of his papacy and before and after every international trip. He also reformed the papal funeral rites, simplifying the entire process.
Pope Francis Dies at 88
Pope Francis, who had been struggling with health issues for several months, passed away at the age of 88. The news was announced by the Holy See.
“Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,”
said Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
His Final Wish
Over a year ago, in an interview, the Pope revealed that he had already arranged for his burial place in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a church he visited over 120 times during his nearly 12-year papacy. He even frequented it before becoming Pope.
This decision breaks a 120-year tradition — Pope Francis will be the first pontiff in over a century not to be buried in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.
Francis explained that behind the statue of the Queen of Peace in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, there is a room where candelabras are stored.
“That’s the place,” he said, disclosing the exact location he had chosen for his final resting place. He added, “They’ve confirmed everything is ready.”
A Simplified Funeral Rite
In a document released in November of last year, Pope Francis officially simplified the papal funeral rites. According to the Vatican, the new protocol is meant to emphasize that the Pope is a shepherd and disciple of Christ — not a monarch.
One of the key changes is that the Pope’s death will now be officially declared not in his room, but in a private chapel.
He ordered that the body be placed immediately in a coffin and displayed there, rather than being laid out on a catafalque as was previously done.
Additionally, instead of being placed in three coffins (as in the past), the body will be placed in just two: one made of zinc and another of wood.
Francis had previously expressed his desire to simplify the papal funeral rites.
Significant Changes
These new guidelines replace those introduced in 1998 under Pope John Paul II, which were used for his funeral in 2005 and, with some modifications, again for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in January 2023.
The updated version of the funeral ritual incorporates insights from both of those funerals and aligns with Pope Francis’s instructions for simplification. The Vatican also noted that the changes reflect current theological and ecclesiastical sensitivities as well as updates to liturgical books.
One of the notable changes is the simplification of papal titles. The terminology has been revised to match the 2008 edition of the Roman Missal: “Pope,” “Bishop of Rome,” and “Pastor.”
The funeral rites will continue to take place in three locations:
- Place of Death – In the private chapel, where the Pope’s body will be placed in a wooden coffin, lined with zinc, before being transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica.
- St. Peter’s Basilica – The body will be displayed in the coffin, not on a catafalque, as was done for John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The coffin will be sealed the evening before the funeral Mass.
- Place of Burial – The burial rites here will also be simplified. The traditional placement of the cypress coffin inside lead and oak coffins has been eliminated. The deceased will be buried in the two sealed coffins: zinc and wood.
Francis discussed these decisions in his book The Successor, published last year. He explained that he does not want his body to be laid out on a catafalque, but placed directly in a coffin — “with dignity, but like any other Christian.”
He also emphasized his wish for only one vigil after his death, not two, and no separate ceremony for the sealing of the coffin.
Reflecting on Benedict XVI’s funeral, he noted:
“That was the last vigil to be held with the Pope’s body displayed outside the coffin on a catafalque.”
“I spoke with the Master of Ceremonies, and we’ve removed that and many other things,” he revealed.
Francis remarked that the previous rituals were simply “too burdened.”